Managers aren’t expected to do it all. In order to function properly, they must be surrounded by a solid team of good individuals capable of carrying their own weight. With this in mind, it’s essential that managers learn and practice delegation.
What does delegation look like? For starters, it shouldn’t happen on the fly. Good delegation requires planning. This entails studying situations that might require additional research or exploration…where the answer appears to be hidden. An important part of delegation is matching the issue with a particular skill set of an employee. By taking time to plan, you can ensure placement of the right issues with the right person or persons. As with all projects, clearly defined goals and objectives must be communicated to employees. Remember, also, that delegation is not intended to be passed on and forgotten. It is vital that managers stay in the loop on employees’ progress.
It is also important to know what NOT to delegate. Issues of a highly confidential nature or assignments specifically given to the manager due to his strengths should not be re-delegated. At times, it is not necessarily clear when a project should or shouldn’t be delegated.
While managers play an integral role in their teams, these teams must be able to operate at times without a leader. By appropriately delegating responsibilities, the manager ensures that work can continue in his absence. As a result, a manager out sick or on vacation will not cause work to grind to a halt.